52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Purmerend and the Beemster, and Mcre duly shipped at Rotterdam, on 

 board the barque " J. C. Humphrey.-;," which vessel saih'd from that 

 port early in April, and arrived here on the 23d of May, 1659, 



Upon examination, the cows were found to be in an extremely bad 

 condition, — very much bruised and emaciated, — one of them, as the 

 mate of tlie barque stated, not having lieen on her feet during the twenty 

 days preceding her arrival ; another one was totally unable to walk, and 

 these two animals were accordingly carried to the farm in wagons — the 

 remaining two wei'e driven out- 

 Deeming it impossible for the first mentioned cow to recover, she was on 

 the 31st of May slaughtered, and on the 2d of June following, the second 

 cow died. At tliat time, in common Avith every one knowing the fact in 

 the case, I was so fully persuaded that the bad condition of these ani- 

 mals was caused by neglect on the voyage, that I libelled the vessel and 

 went through a course of $150 worth of law in my endeavors to obtain 

 indemnity for the loss, but the law is uncertain, and the barque went on 

 her way. My mind, however, remains unchanged with regard to the 

 treatment the animals received on the voyage. 



The third cow of this importation seemed to be doing well until 

 about the 20th of June, when she became sick and died in ten days 

 after. The fourth cow, Lady Beemster, has down to this time shown no 

 indications of sickness, but is, on the contrary, in a thriving condition. 



Early in the month of August foUoAving, symptoms of ^sease were 

 observable in the Dutch cow, Lady Louise, (imported in 1852.) She 

 died on the 20th of the same month. About this time several other 

 animals were taken sick in rapid succession, and then it Avas that the 

 idea A\as first advanced that the disease A\'as identical Avith that known 

 in Europe as " epizootic pleuro-pueumonia." From that dale every 

 possible precaution Avas taken to prevent the spread of the supposed dis- 

 temper, strict orders having been given that no animals should be alloAved 

 to leave the fiirm, nor any strange cattle to come upon the premises. 

 A temjjorary building AAas erected in a pasture at considerable distance 

 from the farm-barn, to Avhich the animals not infected Avere removed 

 and disinfecting agents were used about the premises, &c. 



The folloAving extract from my letter book, in ansAver to an applica- 

 tion for stock during the prevalence of the disease, will serve to shoAV 

 my vicAvs Avith regard to it at that time : " I am, at present, obliged to 

 decline any ap^^lications for stock, OAving to an epidemic disease in my herd. 

 The disease is that knoAvn as ' pleuro-pneumonia,' and I have already 

 lost seventeen head, and have ten more very sick. I am using every 

 precaution to prevent the disease from spreading, and you Avill of course 

 see the propriety of my refusing to allow any aninud to leave the farm 

 until the infection has ceased." 



